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India too strong

India U19s overcome a slow start to overpower Ireland

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BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – India proved too strong for a gallant Ireland Under-19 Men’s side as the team in green fell to a 201-run defeat to the reigning champions in their final group game at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

YMCA Cricket Club’s Olly Riley took 3-55 with the ball, while Musheer Khan scored a century (118) for India as they posted 301-7 from their 50 overs.

Having made three changes from the win over Bangladesh, with Finn Lutton, Macdara Cosgrave, and Daniel Forkin in for Gavin Roulston, Matthew Weldon, and Reuben Wilson, Ireland got off to a positive start – with Clontarf’s John McNally removing both openers inside the first 20 overs. Despite the loss of early wickets, a third wicket partnership of 156 between Khan and captain Uday Saharan saw India inflict plenty of damage to Ireland’s bowling attack.

Ireland did eventually come back strong at the death, with Riley taking three wickets from seven deliveries. However, having been 182-2 after 40 overs Ireland conceded 119 runs in the final ten.

In response, the Irish batters struggled to combat India’s bowling attack, as their top-order of Jordan Neill (11), Ryan Hunter (13), and captain Philippe le Roux (0) found themselves back in the pavilion in double-quick time, with Ireland struggling at 34-3 after nine overs.

Further wickets followed, before Riley and Forkin combined for a 39-run ninth-wicket stand as Ireland looked to reach the 110 run mark. Forkin secured that with a single shortly before Lutton was clean bowled by Saharan to end the game, as India won comfortably, Naman Tiwari with taking 4-53.

The result leaves Ireland playing a waiting game as regards qualifying to the Super Six stage of the competition. That outcome depends on USA’s matches against Bangladesh and India over the coming week.

Ireland captain Philippe le Roux spoke after the game:

“We’re very disappointed. We’re capable of playing a lot better cricket than that, but full credit to India, they played amazing, and they took control of the game at very key moments. There were some positives to take out of it. The two lads that batted at the end (Daniel Fokin and Olly Riley) had a good bit of fun. Going forward, we hope to bounce back and put in better performance next.

“India are defending champions for a reason. They set the game up perfectly. We have a similar blueprint, but they just executed it really well. Then, chasing a big score like that, we were under the pump a bit, but they just took control of the game and executed when they needed to.

“The fans have been exceptional, they always are. They never stopped cheering, never stopped believing. And we really appreciated hearing them, especially when we’re down. When we are, they bring us back up.”